Apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a recording medium with editing functions

ABSTRACT

The present invention is to provide an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a recording medium which comprises recording and reproducing means for recording or reproducing data on or from a recording medium in which management information for recording or reproducing data is recorded together with data, designating means for designating a pause position of one data and control means for controlling the recording and reproducing means based on the management information such that the recording and reproducing means records or reproduces data on or from the recording medium, recognizing a time point at which the designating means is operated during data is recorded on or reproduced from the recording medium by the recording and reproducing means and controlling the recording and reproducing means so that the recording and reproducing means rewrites the management information.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/411,745, filed May 15,1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,322.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording and/orreproducing a recording medium. Particularly, the present inventionrelates to an apparatus for recording and reproducing a recording mediumon which management information for recording or reproducing data isrecorded together with data.

BACKGROUND ART

Recordable disk media, such as a magneto-optical disk or the like, canbe accessed randomly with ease as compared with a tape-shaped recordingmedium, such as a DAT (Digital Audio Tape), a compact cassette tape orthe like. Therefore, data need not be recorded from the inner peripheralside to the outer peripheral side of the disk in the correct order of afirst track to an nth track. In other words, even when a piece of musicis recorded on the disk at its physical random positions, if recordedaddress data of music recorded from the first to nth tracks are managed,then it is possible to reproduce music in the correct order.

Further, a track serving to record a piece of music need not always berecorded on consecutive segments (segment is referred to as a portion inwhich physically continuous data is recorded) and may be discretelydivided into a plurality of segments and recorded on the disk.

In particular, in the system in which data read out from amagneto-optical disk is temporarily stored in a buffer memory at hightransfer rate, read out from the buffer memory at a constant transferrate and demodulated as an audio reproduced signal, even when reading ofdata from the magneto-optical disk is temporarily interrupted due toaccess between the segments, it is possible to continuously output thereproduced audio signal.

Accordingly, if recording and reproducing operation within the segmentand high speed access operation, i.e., access operation which is endedwithin a reproducible time based on a data stored amount generated by adifference between a write data and a read rate of the buffer memory arerepeated continuously, even when a track of a piece of music isphysically divided into a plurality of segments, music can berecorded/reproduced satisfactorily.

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, although a first music is recorded as asegment M₁ and a second music is recorded as a segment M₂ continuously,it is possible to record fourth and fifth music separately on the diskas shown by segments M₄(1) to M₄(4) and M₅(1) to M₅(2). FIG. 1 is aschematic diagram and, in actual practice, it is frequently observedthat one segment is recorded over several to several 100s of tracks orgreater.

When music is recorded on and erased from the magneto-optical diskrepeatedly, irregular empty regions occur on the track due to adifference between a playing time of recorded music and a playing timeof erased music. However, if a discrete recording is executed as shownin FIG. 1, then it becomes possible to record music of which playingtime is longer than that of the erased music by effectively using theerased portion. Therefore, it is possible to solve a problem of uselessdata recording area generated by repetitive recording/erasure.Incidently, recorded data is not limited to "music" and any kinds ofaudio signals may be recorded. In this specification, let it be assumedthat music is recorded as data (tracks of continuous one unit.

Upon recording, a recording is made on this disk while accessingsegments forming a plurality of non-recording regions. Uponreproduction, segments should be accessed such that a piece of music isreproduced correctly. To this end, segments of a piece of music, such asdata connecting M₄(1) to M₄(4) and data indicative of the non-recordingregion are held as U-TOC (user TOC, hereinafter simply referred to asU-TOC) which is rewritten at each recording or erasing operation. Underthe control, the recording/reproducing apparatus reads this U-TOCinformation and allows the head to access the tracks so as to performproper recording/reproducing operation.

As described above, the disk is provided with the U-TOC in order tomanage the address of the first to nth tracks and the non-recordingregions and to manage the connection of segments in respective tracksand the non-recording region. In the system for checking thisinformation, the recording/reproducing apparatus can easily executeedit, such as division and connection of tracks, by rewriting the U-TOC.

When the divide operation is carried out at the position of somewhere ofthe first music, for example, if the U-TOC is rewritten such that theaddress position is set to the end address of the first music and thatthe position of the end address of the first music from that position ismanaged as start address and end address of a resulting second music,then the original first music is divided into the first and second musicat the position of somewhere of the first music.

When the combine operation is carried out at the boundary position ofthe first and second music, if the U-TOC is rewritten such that thestart address of the first music and the end address of the second musicare managed as start address and end address of a new first music, thenthe original first and second music are combined to provide a new firstmusic.

In order to carry out the above-mentioned edit, the conventional diskrecording and reproducing apparatus is provided with edit mode operationfunction in addition to the reproducing mode (operation mode, such asplayback, playback pause, fast forward, fast rewind and access) and therecording mode (operation mode, such as recording and recording pause).

FIG. 2 shows an operation processing in the edit mode.

In a playback mode (F900), for example, if an edit key is operated(F901→YES), then operation in the edit mode is selected. If combine,divide and erase (function to rewrite U-TOC so as to erase a designatedtrack) are entered and title input (processing for rewriting characterdata, such as music name and disk name corresponding to a designatedtrack or disk on the U-TOC) is carried out as edit function, it isdetermined in steps F902, F903, F904 and F905 whether or not anyprocessing is selected. Then, a combine processing (F906), a divideprocessing (F907), an erase processing (F908) and a title enterprocessing (F909) are executed.

However, even when the edit modes are prepared so that various kinds ofedit processing and U-TOC edit processing can be carried out asdescribed above, there is then the problem that it is not so easy forthe user to use the edit function. In particular, the combine processingand the divide processing are not so easy to use.

In the divide processing in which a track number is incremented, forexample, the divide processing should preferably be carried out by theuser at any time in the recording or playback. Specifically, if thedivide processing is carried out to input a track mark when a speaker ischanged during contents of conference are recorded, the divideprocessing need not be carried out after the recording was ended and adesired speech can be readily accessed and played back uponreproduction. Similarly, when a radio broadcasting is recorded, if atrack mark is immediately input with ease at the completion of music,then it is convenient for the user to access and reproduce the musicupon playback. Further, it is convenient for the user if the user inputsa track mark to an arbitrary point during the playback while listeningto reproduced music or if the user carries out the combine processing byusing the track mark.

However, these processing are executed in the edit mode as describedabove and cannot be carried out with ease during the recording andplayback.

In view of the aforesaid problem, according to the present invention, itbecomes possible to execute the divide processing and the combineprocessing with ease.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording and/orreproducing a recording medium which is comprised of a recording andreproducing means for recording data or reproducing data on or from arecording medium in which management information for recording orreproducing data is recorded together with data, designating means fordesignating a breakpoint position of one data and control means forrecognizing a timing point at which the designating means is operated asthe breakpoint position when the designating means is operated duringdata recording or reproduction on or from the recording medium by therecording and reproducing means and controlling the recording andreproducing mean so as to rewrite management information.

Since a track mark can be entered or canceled by the designating means(track mark operating means) during the reproducing mode or recordingmode, i.e., in the operation state, such as reproducing, recording,pause or the like, the divide edit and the combine edit become simpleand easy to handle. Further, the divide edit and the combine edit becomeuseful functions. Further, if the divide edit and the combine edit areeffected in a remote control fashion by the designating means (trackmark operating means) provided in a microphone, a headphone and a remotecommander, the recording processing and the reproducing processingbecome easier and more useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram used to explain the recording state of a disk;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of divide operation processing and combineoperation processing;

FIGS. 3A to 3D are a plan view, a front view, a right-hand sideelevational view and a left-hand side elevational view of a recordingand reproducing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a microphone used in the recording andreproducing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram used to explain a headphone used in the recordingand reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a remote commander used in the recording andreproducing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a main portion of the recording andreproducing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an inside circuit of the headphone used in therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram used to explain a P-TOC sector in a disk;

FIG. 10 is a diagram used to explain a U-TOC sector in the disk;

FIG. 11 is a diagram used to explain a link structure of the U-TOCsector in the disk;

FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C are diagrams used to explain a disk area structureand divide/combine edit;

FIG. 13 is a diagram used to explain the management state by U-TOC;

FIG. 14 is a diagram used to explain U-TOC rewrite operation by thedivide edit;

FIG. 15 is a diagram used to explain U-TOC rewrite operation by thecombine edit;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a divide processing according to theembodiment;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a combine processing according to theembodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of divide processing and combine processingaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of an ATN mode setting processing according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a diagram used to explain an operation system used when theATN mode setting processing according to the embodiment is executed;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a processing executed in the recordingaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a diagram used to explain a track management state presentedwhen recording is carried out under the condition that the ATN mode isoff according to the embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a diagram used to explain a track management state presentedwhen recording is carried out under the condition that the ATN mode ison at an interval of 5 minutes according to the embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a diagram used to explain a track management state presentedwhen recording is carried out under the condition that the ATN mode ison at an interval of 10 minutes according to the embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a diagram used to explain a track management state presentedwhen the ATN mode is switched upon recording according to theembodiment;

FIG. 26 is a diagram used to explain a track management state presentedwhen the ATN mode is switched upon recording according to theembodiment;

FIG. 27 is a diagram used to explain a track management state presentedwhen a time interval setting is switched upon recording according to theembodiment; and

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a processing system executed when a record keyand an ATN key are in combined use according to the embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a recording mediumaccording to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3to 18. In the embodiment which follows, a recording and reproducingapparatus using a magneto-optical disk as a recording medium will beconsidered and described in the following order.

1. Arrangement of recording and reproducing apparatus

2. P-TOC

3. U-TOC

4. Area structure of disk

5. Divide and combine edit processings

6. Automatic track numbering mode setting processing

7. Processing used to record data input by microphone

8. Various automatic track numbering operations upon recording

9. System for using an automatic track numbering mode setting key alsoas a recording key

(1. Arrangement of Recording and Reproducing Apparatus)

FIGS. 3A to 3D are a plan view, a front view, a right-hand sideelevational view and a left-hand side elevational view each showing anouter face of a recording and reproducing apparatus.

Reference numeral 30 depicts a recording and reproducing apparatus bodyand reference numeral 31 depicts a display portion formed of a liquidcrystal display, for example, on which there are displayed track number,playback time, recording/reproducing progress time, title characters,operation mode, recording/reproducing level and so on.

Reference numeral 32 depicts a disk insertion portion through which amagneto-optical disk accommodated in a disk cartridge is inserted andloaded on a recording/reproducing optical unit of the inside.

The recording and reproducing apparatus body 30 includes various kindsof operation keys serving as an operation input portion. The recordingand reproducing apparatus includes a recording switch 33, an eject key34 and an edit key 35 disposed on the front surface of its body.

The recording and reproducing apparatus includes a playback key 36, atemporary stop (pause) key 37, a stop key 38, a channel selection key39, a search key 40, a broadcasting station name enter mode key 41, adisk name enter mode key 42, a date enter mode key 43, a ten-key pad 44and an enter key 45 disposed on the upper surface of its body. Further,the recording and reproducing apparatus includes a mark-on key 46, amark-off key 47 as track mark keys and an ATN key 46a for setting anautomatic track numbering mode (referred to hereinafter as "ATN mode").

Numeral keys of the ten-key pad 44 includes corresponding three or twoalphabets or spaces used to enter characters.

The recording and reproducing apparatus includes a hold switch 48, aplay mode key 49 for selecting the repeat/random playback/programplayback or the like, a low frequency band correction switch 50 and aresume switch 51 disposed on the right-hand side surface of its body.The recording and reproducing apparatus includes an AGC switch 52 and amicrophone attenuator switch 53 disposed on the left-hand side surfaceof its body.

Further, reference numeral 54 depicts a volume and reference numeral 55depicts a recording level adjustment volume.

The recording and reproducing apparatus further includes various kindsof input and output terminals disposed on the side surface of its body.

Reference numeral 56 depicts a microphone input terminal to which thereis connected a microphone 70 shown in FIG. 4. A connection portion 71 ofthe microphone 70 is composed of a stereo plug portion 72 and aconnector portion 73 as shown in FIG. 4. The microphone input terminal56 is formed so as to be adapted to the connection portion 71. Themicrophone 70 includes a track mark key 74 formed on its housing. Theconnection portion 71 of the microphone 70 and the microphone inputterminal 56 are not limited to the above-mentioned shapes and may bemodified variously.

The microphone input terminal 56 to which the microphone 70 is connectedincludes a connection detection mechanism and a circuit, though notshown. A detected signal D_(JM) from the detection circuit is suppliedto a system controller 11. It is determined by the system controller 11on the basis of the detected signal D_(JM) whether or not the microphone70 is connected to the microphone input terminal.

Reference numeral 57 depicts a headphone output terminal to which thereis connected a headphone 80 shown in FIG. 5. A connection portion 81 ofthe headphone 80 is composed of a stereo plug portion 82 and a connectorportion 83 shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the headphone output terminal57 is formed so as to be adapted to such connection portion 81. Theheadphone 80 has an operation portion formed in the intermediate portionof its cord. The operation portion of the headphone includes a volume 84for adjusting the headphone output level, a playback key 85, a stop key86, a feed forward/channel selection key 87 and a track mark key 87.

The connection portion 81 of the headphone 80 and the headphone outputterminal 57 are not limited to the above-mentioned shapes and may bemodified variously.

Reference numeral 58 depicts an input terminal which is served as both adigital audio signal input terminal based on optical cable and a lineinput terminal of an analog audio signal. A terminal mechanism forenabling the input terminal to be used as both the digital audio signalinput terminal and the analog audio signal line input terminal will notbe described. Reference numeral 59 depicts an output terminal which isused as both a digital audio signal output terminal based on an opticalcable and an analog audio signal line output terminal. The inputterminal 58 also includes a connection detection mechanism and acircuit, though not shown. A detected signal D_(JL) from the detectioncircuit is supplied to the system controller 11. It is determined by thesystem controller 11 on the basis of the detected signal D_(JL) whetherthe digital audio signal input terminal or the analog audio signal lineinput terminal is connected.

The recording and reproducing apparatus includes an infraredphotosensing portion 60. This photosensing portion 60 receives a commandsignal from a remote commander 90 which transmits a command signal viainfrared rays as shown in FIG. 6.

The remote commander 90 includes a power key 91, numeral keys 92,various mode keys 93, record/playback operation keys 94 and a mark-onkey 95 and a mark-off key 96 each serving as a track mark key. Whenthese keys are depressed, a corresponding command signal is read outfrom an internal ROM or RAM, modulated in intensity by infrared rays andthen output.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a main portion of the inside of therecording and reproducing apparatus shown in FIGS. 3A through 3D.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 depicts a magneto-optical disk in whichaudio data, for example, is recorded. This sheet of drawingschematically shows the state that the magneto-optical disk is loadedfrom the disk insertion portion 32. The magneto-optical disk 1 isrotated by a spindle motor 2. Reference numeral 3 depicts an opticalhead which radiates the magneto-optical disk 1 with laser beams uponrecording/reproducing. The optical head 3 emits laser beam of high levelto heat a recording track up to Curie temperature upon recording, andoutputs laser beam of relatively low level to detect data from reflectedlight owing to Kerr effect upon playback.

To this end, the optical head 3 has a laser diode serving as a lightsource, an optical system composed of a polarization beam splitter, anobjective lens or the like and a detector for detecting reflected lightmounted thereon. An objective lens 3a is held by an actuator 4 so thatit can be displaced in the disk radius direction and in the direction inwhich the objective lens is moved close to or away from the disk.

Reference numeral 6 depicts a magnetic head which applies verticalmagnetic field modulated by data supplied thereto to the magneto-opticaldisk 1. The magnetic head is disposed at the position opposing theoptical head 3 across the magneto-optical disk 1. The whole of theoptical head 3 and the magnetic head 6 can be moved by a sled mechanism5 in the disk radius direction.

Upon reproduction, information detected from the magneto-optical disk 1by the optical head 3 is supplied to an RF amplifier 7. The RF amplifier7 extracts a reproducing RF signal, a tracking error signal, a focusingerror signal, absolute position information (absolute positioninformation recorded on the magneto-optical disk 1 as pre-grooves(wobbling grooves)), address information, a focusing monitor signal orthe like by calculating information supplied thereto. The reproducing RFsignal thus extracted is supplied to an encoder/decoder unit 8. Thetracking error signal and the focusing error signal are supplied to aservo circuit 9, and the address information is supplied to an addressdecoder 10. Further, the absolute position information and the focusingmonitor signal are supplied to the system controller 11 formed of amicrocomputer, for example.

The servo circuit 9 is responsive to the tracking error signal and thefocusing error signal supplied thereto, track jump command and seekcommand supplied thereto from the system controller 11 and rotationalspeed detected information of the spindle motor 2 or the like togenerate various kinds of servo drive signals. The various servo signalsthus generated are supplied to the actuator 4 and the sled mechanism 5to execute control, such as focus control and tracking control and alsosupplied to the spindle motor 2 so that the spindle motor 2 iscontrolled so as to rotate the magneto-optical disk in a constantangular velocity (CAV) fashion or in a constant linear velocity (CLV)fashion.

The reproducing RF signal is supplied to the encoder/decoder unit 8, inwhich it is processed by decode processing, such as EFM modulation, CIRCor the like and temporarily stored in the buffer memory 14 by a memorycontroller 12. Data is read out from the magneto-optical disk 1 by theoptical head 3 and reproduced data is transferred in the system rangingfrom the optical head 3 to the buffer memory 14 at transfer rate of 1.4Mbit/sec intermittently. The buffer memory 13 is formed of a RAM havinga storage capacity of 1 Mbit or 4 Mbit.

Data written in the buffer memory 13 is read out from the buffer memory13 at a timing in which a transfer rate of reproduced data becomes 0.3Mbit/sec and then supplied to an encoder/decoder unit 14. Data suppliedto the encoder/decoder unit 14 is processed by the encoder/decoder unit14 in a reproduced signal processing fashion, such as decode processingeffected on an audio signal compression or the like and thereby decodedto an output digital signal.

The digital signal output from the encoder/decoder unit 14 is convertedto an analog signal by a D/A converter 15 and supplied through a switch16 to the output terminal 59 or the headphone output terminal 57.Further, the digital signal is not converted to an analog signal but isdirectly supplied to the output terminal 59.

Specifically, when the headphone 80 is connected to the headphone outputterminal 57, the audio signal that was converted to the analog audiosignal is supplied to the headphone 80. When a connection cord (e.g.,cord with a pin plug) is connected to the output terminal 59, the audiosignal that was converted into the analog audio signal is supplied toother audio device via the connection cord.

When an audio cable is connected to the output terminal 59, the audiosignal is supplied to other device as digital-data.

Writing/reading of data in and from the buffer memory 13 are carried outby designating address data under the control of a write pointer and aread pointer by the memory controller 12. The write pointer (writeaddress data) is incremented at the timing of 1.41 Mbit/sec and the readpointer (read address data) is incremented at the timing of 0.3Mbit/sec. Therefore, data of a certain data amount are stored in thebuffer memory by a difference between the write and read bit rates. Whendata is stored in the buffer memory 13 to the full of the storagecapacity, the increment of the write pointer is stopped and the readoperation for reading data from the magneto-optical disk 1 by theoptical head 3 also is stopped. However, since the increment of the readpointer R is continuously executed, reproduced signals output from therespective output terminals are avoided from being interrupted.

Thereafter, if only the read operation for reading data from the buffermemory 13 is continued so that the data storage amount within the buffermemory 13 becomes a predetermined amount or smaller at a certain timingpoint, then the optical head 3 resumes reading data and the increment ofwrite pointer is resumed, thereby data being stored in the buffer memory13.

Since the reproduced signal is output through the buffer memory 13 asdescribed above, even when a tracking servo is disabled by a disturbanceor the like, it is possible to prevent the reproduced signal from beinginterrupted. Specifically, if the reading operation for reading data isresumed by accessing the magneto-optical disk 1 up to its correctscanning position before the memory 13 becomes empty, then it ispossible to continue the operation without affecting the output of thereproduced signal. In other words, it is possible to considerablyimprove a vibration service function.

In FIG. 7, address information output from the address decoder 10 andsubcode data for control operation are supplied through theencoder/decoder unit 8 to the system controller 11, in which they areused in various kinds of control operations.

Further, a lock detection signal from a PLL circuit which generates arecording/reproducing operation bit clock and a monitor signalrepresenting a dropped state of a frame sync signal of reproduced data(L channel and R channel) are supplied to the system controller 11.

The system controller 11 generates an output control signal S_(LP) whichcontrols the operation of the laser diode of the optical head 3.Therefore, the system controller 11 supplies the output control signalS_(LP) to the laser diode to turn on and off the laser diode. When thelaser diode is turned on by the output control signal, the systemcontroller 11 switches an output produced in the reproduction where theoutput level of the laser beam is relatively low and an output producedin the recording where the output level of the laser beam is relativelyhigh.

When the recording operation is executed on the magneto-optical disk 1,the analog or digital audio signal is supplied from other device throughthe connection cord or the audio optical cable connected to the inputterminal 58. Moreover, the microphone 70 is connected to the microphoneinput terminal 56 to supply the audio signal as the output signal of themicrophone 70.

The audio signal that was transmitted to the input terminal 58 in theform of the digital data through the audio optical cable is directlysupplied to the encoder/decoder unit 14. The analog audio signal inputto the microphone 70 via the connection cord or the microphone 70 issupplied through aa switch 17 to the A/D converter 18, in which it isconverted to a digital signal and supplied to the encoder/decoder unit14.

The encoder/decoder unit 14 processes the input digital signal in anaudio compression encode processing. The digital data compressed by theencoder/decoder unit 14 is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 13under the control of the memory controller 12 and read out from thebuffer memory at a predetermined timing and sent to the encoder/decoderunit 8. The digital data supplied to the encoder/decoder unit 8 isprocessed by the encoder/decoder unit 8 in an encode processing fashion,such as CIRC encoding, EFM modulation or the like. Recorded data outputfrom the encoder/decoder unit 8 is supplied to a magnetic head drivecircuit 15.

The magnetic head drive circuit 15 supplies a magnetic head drive signalto the magnetic head 6 based on recorded data encoded by theencoder/decoder unit 8. Specifically, N or S vertical magnetic fieldgenerated by the magnetic head 6 is applied-to the magneto-opticaldisk 1. At that time, the system controller 11 supplies the outputcontrol signal S_(LP) to the optical head 3 so that the optical head 3outputs the laser beam of which the intensity corresponds to therecording level.

Reference numeral 19 depicts an operation input unit having keysoperable by the user. The switches or keys 33 to 53 are those keys.

The microphone connected as described above include the tracking markkey 74. Operation information of this tracking mark key is obtained fromthe connector portion 73 of the connection portion 74 and the systemcontroller 11 can detect operation information from the microphone inputterminal 56.

Similarly, the headphone 80 also includes operation keys 85 to 89.Operation information for these operation keys can be obtained from theconnector portion 83 of the connection portion 81 and the systemcontroller 11 can detect operation information from the headphone outputterminal 57.

To detect operation information by the operation keys of the microphone70 and the headphone will be described below, in which case theheadphone 80 is considered by way of example.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a circuit configuration of the headphone 80.

The connection portion 81 includes the stereo plug 82 and the connectorportion 83. In the stereo plug 82, a terminal 82a is an L-channel audiosignal terminal, a terminal 82b is an R-channel audio signal terminaland a terminal 82c is grounded.

L-channel and R-channel audio signals supplied to the stereo plugportion 82 connected to the headphone output terminal 57 of therecording and reproducing apparatus are supplied through a variableresistor 84a, which can be varied by the volume 84, to ear speaker units80a, 80b from which they are emanated as sounds.

On the other hand, in the connector portion 83, a terminal 83a is aterminal to which a positive voltage +B is applied. A terminal 83b is adata terminal, a terminal 83c is an input terminal and a terminal 83d isa clock terminal.

The positive voltage +B from the terminal 83a is supplied through aresistor R₁ to a contact 85a of the playback key 85, a contact 86a ofthe stop key 86, a contact 87a of a fast forward/AMS KEY 87, a contact88a of a fast rewind/AMS key 88 and a contact 89a of a track mark key89.

The other terminal of the contact 85a is connected to the direct inputterminal 83c and the other terminal of the contact 86a is connectedthrough resistors R₃ and R₄ to the input terminal 83c. The otherterminal of the contact 87a is connected through resistors R₄, R₅, R₆ tothe input terminal 83c, and the other terminal of the contact 88a isconnected through resistors R₄, R₆, R₇, R₈ to the input terminal 83c.Further, the other terminal of the contact 89a is connected throughresistors R₄, R₆, R₈, R₉, R₁₀ to the input terminal 83c.

Specifically, each time any of the contacts 85a, 86a, 87a, 88a and 89ais turned on, voltage-dividing ratios of the respective resistors R₁ toR₁₀ and R₂ become different. As a consequence, the input terminal 83c issupplied with different voltage values each time any one of the play key85, the stop key 86, the fast forward/AMS key 87, the fast rewind/AMSkey 88 and the track mark key 89 is operated.

Therefore, on the system controller 11 side of the recording andreproducing apparatus, if the voltage value in the input terminal 83c isdetected, then it is possible to judge operated contents of the keys 85to 89 in the headphone 80. The system controller 11 carries outplayback, stop or the like on the basis of the judged result.

The operation of the microphone 70 is fundamentally similar. Thus, ifthe voltage state presented by divided voltages is changed by operatingthe track mark key 74, then it is possible to detect the operation bythe system controller 11.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, the infrared photosensing portion 60receives the command signal from the remote commander 90. Then, theinfrared photosensing portion 60 photoelectrically converts the receivedcommand signal to an electrical signal and supplies the electricalsignal to the system controller 11. The system controller 11 performsvarious processings based on the command pulse supplied thereto tothereby make it possible for the remote commander 90 to perform a remoteoperation.

When data is recorded/reproduced on and from the disk 1, managementinformation recorded on the disk 1, i.e., P-TOC (pre-mastered TOC),U-TOC are read out. Then, the system controller 11 judges address dataof segments to be recorded on the disk 1 and address data of segment tobe reproduced from the disk on the basis of these managementinformations. The management information is stored in the buffer memory13. To this end, the buffer memory 13 has an area to store recorded orreproduced digital data and an area to hold these management informationset therein.

When the disk 1 is loaded on the recording and reproducing apparatus,the system controller 11 moves the optical head 3 toward the innermostperiphery of the disk to enable the optical head 3 to read out thesemanagement informations. The management informations thus read out arestored in the buffer memory 13. Thereafter, when data isrecorded/reproduced on and from the disk 1, the system controller readsout the management informations from the buffer memory 13 and use thesame to effect various control operations.

The U-TOC is edited and rewritten each time data is recorded or erased.The system controller 11 effects the U-TOC edit processing on the U-TOCinformation stored in the buffer memory 13 each time data isrecorded/erased on and from the disk, and rewrites the U-TOC area of thedisk 1 at a predetermined timing in response to the rewrite operation.

(2. P-TOC)

As management information for managing recording/reproducing operationof audio data sector and audio data recorded in the form of sector dataon the disk 1, P-TOC will be described initially.

As P-TOC information, an area such as a disk recordable area (referredto hereinafter as "recordable user area") is designated and a U-TOC areais managed. If the disk 1 is a preformatted optical disk, it is possibleto manage music that were recorded on the disk 1 in the form such thatmusic cannot be rewritten by the P-TOC.

FIG. 9 shows a P-TOC format.

FIG. 9 shows one sector (sector 0) of P-TOC information repeatedlyrecorded on a P-TOC area (e.g., ROM area formed on the innermostperipheral side of the disk). According to the P-TOC format, sectorsfollowing a sector 1 may be provided optionally when necessary. The ROMarea in this specification depicts a recording area in which data cannotbe rewritten and in which data is recorded in the form of concavitiesand convexities, such as pits of the compact disk, for example.

Data area (4 bytes×588=2352 bytes) of the P-TOC sector includes a headercomposed of 4 bytes of a sync pattern of one-byte data of all "0" or all"1", cluster address data and sector address data to indicate the P-TOCarea.

The header is followed by identification code data ID called "MINI"disposed at a predetermined address position according to the ASCII codecorresponding to characters.

The identification code data ID is followed by disk type data, recordingpower data, tune number data of first recorded music (First TNO), tunenumber data of last recorded music (Last TNO), read-out start addressRO_(A), a power calculation start address PC_(A) for adjusting powerlevel of laser beam from the optical head, start address UST_(A) ofU-TOC (data area of U-TOC sector 0 in FIG. 10 which will be describedlater on) and recordable user area start address RST_(A).

There is prepared a corresponding table designating data portionincluding table pointers (P-TNO1 to P-TNO 255) by which recorded musicand so on are agreed with parts table in a management table portionwhich will be described later.

In the area which follows the corresponding table designating dataportion, there is prepared the management table portion in which 255parts tables ranging from (01h) to (FFh) are provided in correspondencewith the table pointers (p-TNO1 to P-TNO255) in the corresponding tabledesignating data portion. In this specification, numerical valuesaffixed by "h" represent so-called hexadecimal notations. In each of theparts tables, there can be recorded a start address which becomes astart point of a certain segment, an end address which becomes an endpoint and mode information (track mode) of the segment (track).

The track mode information in each parts table contains informationrepresenting whether the segment is set in the overwrite inhibit segmentor data copy inhibit segment, whether the track mode information isaudio information or whether the track mode information ismonaural/stereo information.

In the respective parts tables from (01h) to (FFh) in the managementtable portion, the contents of segments are indicated by table pointers(P-TNO1 to P-TNO255) of the corresponding table designating portion. Inother words, with respect to the music of the first program, there isrecorded a certain parts table of the table pointer P-TNO1 (e.g., (01h),in actual practice, numerical value that can indicate a certain partstable at the byte position within the P-TOC sector 0 is recorded on thetable pointer by predetermined calculation). In this case, the startaddress of the parts table (01h) becomes the start address of therecording position of the music of the first program. Similarly, the endaddress becomes the end address of the position at which the music ofthe first program is recorded. Further, the track mode informationbecomes information concerning the first program.

Similarly, with respect to the second program, the start address, theend address and the track mode information of the recording position ofthe second program are recorded on the parts table (e.g., (02h))indicated on the table pointer P-TNO2.

In a like manner, since there are prepared the table pointers up toP-TNO255, programs up to 255th program can be managed on the P-TOC.

Then, since the P-TOC sector 0 is formed, upon reproduction, apredetermined music can be accessed and reproduced.

In the case of the recordable/reproducible magneto-optical disk,information is recorded by physical concavity and convexity, i.e,so-called pits of compact disk and there is no ROM area. Therefore, thecorresponding table designating data portion and the management tableportion are not used and respective bytes are all set to "00h". Theseare managed by U-TOC which will be described later on.

However, with respect to the preformatted optical disk in which allmusic are recorded by so-called pits and a hybrid type optical diskhaving both the ROM area in which music and so on are recorded and amagneto-optical area, there are used the corresponding table designatingdata portion and the management table portion in order to manage musicin the ROM area.

(3. U-TOC)

U-TOC will be described next.

FIG. 10 shows a format of one sector (sector 0) of the U-TOC which isset to a data area in which there is recorded management informationconcerning a non-recording area (hereinafter referred to as "free area")in which a piece of music recorded by the user and new music can berecorded. The sector 1 and the following sectors of the U-TOC are madeoptional.

When a certain music is recorded on a disk 1, for example, the systemcontroller 11 searches a free area on the disk from the U-TOC andrecording data is recorded on the searched free area under the controlof the system controller. Upon reproduction, the system controller 11discriminates the area in which a reproduced music is recorded from theU-TOC and carries out the reproducing operation by accessing that area.

The sector (sector 0) of the U-TOC shown in FIG. 10 includes a headersimilarly to the P-TOC and data, such as maker code, model code, programof first music (First TNO0, program of last music (Last TNO), sector usesituation, disk serial No. and disk ID recorded at predetermined addresspositions. Further, the U-TOC includes various kinds of table pointers(P-DFA, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-TNO1 to P-TNO255) prepared as correspondingtable designating portions in order to discriminate the area of musicrecorded by the user recording and the non-recording area with referenceto the management table which will be described later on.

There are provided 255 parts tables from (01h) to (FFh) as themanagement portions which are made corresponding to that table pointers(P-DFA to P-TNO255) of the corresponding table designating data portion.Similarly to the P-TOC sector 0 of FIG. 9, a start address which becomesa start of a certain segment, an end address which becomes an end of acertain segment and mode information (track mode) of the segment arerecorded on the respective parts table. Further, in the case of thisU-TOC sector 0, segments indicated by the respective parts table arefrequently combined with other segments so that link informationindicating the parts table in which the start address and the endaddress of the combined segment are recorded can be recorded.

This kind of recording and reproducing apparatus can satisfactorilyreproduce data by accessing several segments without trouble even whendata of a piece of music is recorded over a plurality of segments. Thus,it is frequently observed that music that are recorded by the user isrecorded over a plurality of segments in order to enhance an efficiencywith which recordable areas can be used. To this end, the U-TOC includeslink information in which parts tables can be combined by designatingcombined parts tables with numbers (01h) to (FFh) (in actual practice,indicated by numerical values set to byte positions within the U-TOC bypredetermined calculation) given to the respective parts tables.Incidentally, since a piece of music recorded in the form of pits inadvance is not generally divided in segment, as shown in FIG. 9, linkinformations are all set to "00h" in the P-TOC sector 0.

In other words, in the management table portion in the U-TOC sector 0,one parts table expresses one segment. Therefore, with respect to apiece of music arranged by combining three segments, for example, itssegment position is managed by the three parts tables combined by thelink information.

With respect to the respective parts tables up to (01h) to (FFh) in themanagement table portion of the U-TOC sector 0, contents of segments areindicated by the table pointers (P-DFA, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-TNO1 toP-TNO255) in the corresponding table designating data portion asfollows:

The table pointer P-DFA indicates a defect area on the magneto-opticaldisk 1 and designates one parts table or a starting parts table of aplurality of parts table which shows a track portion (=segment) whichbecomes a defect area due to scratches or the like. That is, if thereexists a defect segment, any one of (01h) to (FFh) is recorded on thetable pointer P-DFA and the defect segment is indicated on thecorresponding parts table by the start and end addresses. If then thereexist other defect segments, other parts table are designated as linkinformation on the parts table and the defect segment is indicated onthat parts table. If there is no other defect segment, the linkinformation is set to "(00h)" which indicates the absence of defectsegment to be linked.

The table pointer P-EMPTY occupies the starting parts table of the oneor a plurality of empty parts tables in the management table portion. Ifthere exists the empty parts table, any one of (01h) to (FFh) isrecorded as the table pointer P-EMPTY. If there exist a plurality ofempty parts tables, parts tables are sequentially designated from theparts tables designated by the table pointer P-EMPTY by linkinformation. All empty parts tables are combined on the management tableportion.

The table pointer P-FRA indicates a free area (including an erasingarea) in which data can be written on the magneto-optical disk 1 anddesignates a starting parts table of one or a plurality of parts tablesindicated by the track portion (=segment) which becomes a free area. Inother words, if there exists the free area, any one of (01h) to (FFh) isrecorded on the table pointer P-FRA and the segment which is the freearea is indicated on the corresponding parts table by the start and endaddresses. If there are a plurality of such segments, i.e., partstables, then link informations are sequentially designated up to theparts table which becomes "(00h)".

FIG. 11 schematically shows a management state of the segment whichbecomes the free area. This diagram shows the state that when thesegments (03h), (18h), (1Fh), (2Bh) and (E3h) are set to the free areas,this state is expressed by the linking of the parts tables (03h), (18h),(1Fh), (2Bh) and (E3h) following the corresponding table designatingdata P-FRA. The management states of the defect area and the empty partstables become similar.

If the magneto-optical disk is such one that audio data such as music isnot recorded at all and no defect area exists, then the parts table(01h) is designated by the table pointer P-FRA, whereby it is indicatedthat the whole of the recordable user area of the disk is the free area.In this case, since the parts tables (02h) to (FFh) are not used, theparts table (02h) is designated by the table pointer P-EMPTY. Also, theparts table (03h) is designated as link information of the parts table(02h) and the parts table (04h) is designated as link information of theparts table (03h), thereby parts tables being linked up to the partstable (FFh). In this case, the link information of the parts table (FFh)is set to "(00h)" which indicates the absence of the following linkingof the parts tables.

At that time, with respect to the parts table (01h), the start addressof the recordable user area is recorded as the start address, and anaddress immediately preceding the read-out start address is recorded asthe end address.

The table pointers P-TNO1 to P-TNO255 indicate music that are recordedon the magneto-optical disk 1 by the user. The table pointer P-TNO1designates the parts table in which a starting segment of one or aplurality of segments which data of first program is recorded isindicated.

When a piece of music serving as a first program is not divided on thedisk, i.e., recorded on the disk as one segment, the recording area ofthe first program is recorded as the start and end addresses of theparts table indicated by the table pointer P-TNO1.

When a piece of music serving as a second program is recorded on aplurality of segments on the disk in a discrete fashion, segments aredesignated in the sequential order from a timing standpoint in order toindicate the recorded position of the music. In other words, other partstables are designated by the link information from the parts tabledesignated on the table pointer P-TNO2 in the sequential order from atiming standpoint and linked to the parts table in which linkinformation becomes "(00h)" (in the form similar to that of FIG. 11).Data constructing the second program, for example, is recorded and allsegments are sequentially designated and recorded as described above. Asa result, when the second program is reproduced or data is overwrittenon the area of the second program by using data of the U-TOC sector 0,it becomes possible to reproduce continuous music information fromdiscrete segments by making the optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6access the tracks or to effect the efficient recording by using therecording area.

As described above, the area management on the disk is carried out bythe P-TOC and by the U-TOC such as the music recorded on the recordableuser area and the free area.

These TOC informations are read in the buffer memory 13 and the systemcontroller 11 can refer to these information. Incidentally, the numberof tracks or the number of music that the U-TOC can manage becomes 255at maximum. This is because the number of tracks or the number of musicdepends on the table pointers P-TNO1 to P-TNO255. If there exists atrack in which two parts tables or more are linked from one tablepointer P-TNO, then the number of parts tables is 255 and the number oftracks that can be managed by the U-TOC becomes less than 255.

(4. Area Structure of Disk)

An area structure of disk will be described herein. FIG. 12Aschematically shows the disk area structure along the radius direction.

A magneto-optical disk is roughly composed of a ROM area in which datais recorded by pits formed a physical concavities and convexities and agroove area serving as a so-called magneto-optical area in which groovesare formed.

The P-TOC is repeatedly recorded as the pit area and in this P-TOC, theposition of the U-TOC is indicated as a U-TOC start address UST_(A).There are also indicated address positions, such as the read-out startaddress RO_(A), the recordable user area start address RST_(A), thetrial area start address PC_(A) shown in FIG. 12A.

The groove area is formed at the next of the pit area of the innermostperipheral side of this disk. Of this groove area, areas up to theaddress shown as the read-out start address RO_(A) within the P-TOC areused as the recordable area in which data can be recorded and thefollowing areas are used as the read-out area.

Further, of this recordable area, the recordable area in which data canbe recorded covers the area from the recordable user area start addressRST_(A) to the position immediately before the read-out start addressRO_(A).

An area provided ahead of the recordable user area start address RST_(A)within the groove area is used as the management area for effectingrecording and reproducing operation and in which the U-TOC or the likeis recorded. An area ranging from the position shown as the startaddress PC_(A) of the trial writing area by one cluster is used as atrial writing area in which an output level of light beam output fromthe optical head 3 is set.

The U-TOC is continuously recorded by three clusters (1 cluster=36sectors) from the position shown at the U-TOC start address UST_(A)within the management area for the recording and reproducing operation.

Audio data in actual practice is recorded on the recordable user area asshown in FIG. 12A, for example. In this case, with respect to four musicprograms M₁ to M₄, a first music program M₁ is recorded on the segmentsof addresses A₂₀ to A₂₁, a second music program M₂ is recorded in theform of a portion M₂(1) recorded on the segments of addresses A₂₂ to A₂₃and a portion M₂(2) recorded on the segments of the addresses A₂₆ toA₂₇. A third music program M₃ is recorded on the segments of addressesA₂₄ to A₂₅ and a fourth music program M₄ is recorded on the segments ofaddresses A₂₈ to A₂₉.

Such recording state is managed by the table pointers P-TNO1 to P-TNO4,P-FRA and the parts tables linked thereto within the U-TOC as describedabove.

The management state in this case is shown in FIG. 13. If the recordableuser area shown in FIG. 12A has no defect, the table pointer P-DFA isset to "00h".

If parts table (06h) is indicated on the table pointer P-FRA in orderfor the table pointer P-FRA to manage the free area, then informationwhich becomes the free area shown in FIG. 12A is indicated on the partstable (06h) in correspondence therewith. That is, an address A₃₀ isindicated as a start address and an address A₃₁ is indicated as an endaddress. In this case, since there exists no free area as other segment,link information of the parts table (06h) is set to "00h".

With respect to the first music program M₁, a start address A₂₀ and anend address A₂₁ are indicated on the parts table (01h) indicated on thetable pointer P-TNO1. Since the music M₁ is recorded on one segment,link information of the parts table (01h) is set to "00h".

With respect to the second music program M₂, a start address A₂₂ and anend address A₂₃ are indicated on the parts table (02h) shown on thetable pointer P-TNO2. The music program M₂, however, is separatelyrecorded on two segments (M_(a)(1) and M₂(2)) and the address A₂₂ andthe address A₂₃ indicate only the segment of the first half portion(M₂(1)) of the music program M₂. Therefore, the parts table (03h) isindicated as the link information of the parts table (02h) and a startaddress A₂₆ and an end address A₂₇ are recorded on the parts table (03h)in order to indicate the segment of the second half portion (M₂(2)).Since following linking is not required, the link information of theparts table (03h) is set to "00h".

With respect to the third music program M₃ and the fourth music programM₄, the segment positions thereof are managed by the parts tables whichare obtained from the starting points of the table pointers P-TNO3 andP-TNO4. Since only four music programs are recorded, the table pointersP-TNO5 to PTNO255 are not yet used and set to "00h".

The table pointer P-EMPTY which indicates the empty parts tableindicates the part table (07h) in this case. Therefore, all empty partstables from the parts table (07h) to the parts table (FFh) are linked bylink informations.

(5. Divide and Combine Edit Processing)

Since the respective music programs (tracks) are managed by the U-TOCand the recording/reproducing operation is carried out on the basis ofthis management, it becomes possible to separate (divide) music and link(combine) music only by rewriting the U-TOC.

Operation and processing for executing divide/combine edit according tothe first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12A to18.

As described above, the recording and reproducing apparatus 30 includesthe mark-on key 46 and the mark-off key 47 as the track mark key, andthe remote commander 90 also includes a mark-on key 95 and a mark-offkey 96 as the track mark key.

Further, the microphone 70 includes the track mark key 74 and theheadphone 80 includes the track mark key 89. The track mark keys 74 and89 are the operation keys which are served as both the mark-on key andthe mark-off key.

While operation information entered by these operation keys is suppliedto the system controller 11, the system controller 11 executes thedivide processing by executing the processing shown in FIG, 16 withrespect to information entered by the mark-on key 46 or 95 of therecording and reproducing apparatus 30 or the remote commander 90.

Step F100 in FIG. 16 shows the case that the system controller 11controls the playback operation in the play mode, the case that thesystem controller controls the play pause operation or that the systemcontroller controls the recording operation in the recording mode.

When the recording pause operation is carried out in the recording mode,the track number is automatically incremented at that point, i.e., thedivide processing is executed. In that case, if the user carries out thedivide operation, such operation is not needed and therefore the systemcontroller 11 ignores such operation information.

If the user operates the mark-on key 46 or 95 when the system controller11 executes the play, the play pause or the recording processing so thatthe recording and reproducing apparatus carries out the play operation,the play pause operation or the recording operation, then the processingproceeds from step F101 to step F103. It is determined whether thepresent address of the play or recording progress point or address of apoint at which the play pause is executed represents a pause of music,i.e., the address is the divide point. This judgement can be carried outby determining whether the present address is agreed with or is veryclose to the start address or the end address of each music.

If a negative result is obtained at step F103, i.e., the present addressrepresent the position of somewhere of a certain music, then theprocessing proceeds to a divide processing (F104). Incidentally, duringthe recording, the position at which the divide processing is executedis never agreed with the track changing point that was already dividedso that the processing at step F103 is not required in particular.

In the divide processing at step F104, the U-TOC data written in thebuffer memory 13 is rewritten and the divide operation is displayed. Inthat case, a message indicative of the fact that the divide operation isexecuted is displayed, the displayed track number is changed and thedisplay of music proceeding time is reset.

In actual practice, the divide processing, i.e, the rewriting of theU-TOC is carried out as follows. If now the user depresses the mark-onkey 46 at a timing point in which somewhere of a music M₃ represented byTM_(ON) in FIG. 12A is being reproduced in the playback operation, forexample, then the music M₃ is divided by the divide processing at stepF104 into music M₃ and music M₄ along the address point as shown in FIG.12B. At that time, the music M₄ that was originally recorded as 4th tunein FIG. 12A is changed to music M₅ of 5th tune as shown in FIG. 12B.

In this case, the U-TOC is rewritten from the state shown in FIG. 13 tothe state shown in FIG. 14. Portions shown hatched represent rewrittenportions.

Specifically, in the parts-table (04h) represented by the table pointerP-TNOS3, A₂₄ is recorded as the start address and A₂₅ is recorded as theend address. If an address obtained when the divide processing isexecuted is A₃₂, then this address becomes the end address of new musicM₃ so that the end address of the parts-table (04h) is rewritten fromA₂₅ to A₃₂.

Moreover, the music M₄ that was originally the 4th tune becomes the 5thtune because the track number thereof is incremented by dividing.Therefore, the numerical value that had been so far written is writtenin the table pointer P-TNO5 and the parts-table (05h) is displayed onthe table pointer PTNO5. In other words, the segments A₂₈ and A₂₉ thathad been indicated on the parts-table (05h) as the start address and theend address are managed as the 5th music M₅ newly.

A new 4th music that is generated by dividing is expressed by theparts-table (07h) that is not yet utilized. Specifically, the nextaddress data a₃₃ of the address A₂₂ of the divided point is written inthe parts-table (07h) as the start address, and the address data A₂₅that was originally written in the parts-table (04h) as the end addressdata of the 3rd music is written in the parts-table (07h). Then, thetable pointer PTNO4 is rewritten so as to designate the parts-table(07h).

Incidentally, since the parts-table (07h) is used to manage the new 4thmusic, the parts-table (07h) is removed from a link structure of a tablepointer P-EMPTY and the table pointer P-EMPTY is rewritten so as toexpress a parts-table (08h). Link information of the parts-table (07h)is rewritten as "00h".

Dividing is completed by the above-mentioned rewriting and thereafterthe music M₃ is managed as address data A₂₄ to A₃₂, the music M₄ ismanaged as address data A₃₃ to A₂₅ and the music M₅ is managed asaddress data A₂₈ to A₂₉.

According to this embodiment, the user can carry out the divide editonly by depressing the mark-on key 46 or 95 at a predetermined timingduring play, play pause or recording.

Thereafter, stop operation is executed and play, play pause or recordingis stopped (step F102→). In that case, at that timing point, the U-TOCheld in the buffer memory 13 is written in the U-TOC area of the disk 1in actual practice and the operation is stopped (F106).

When the user depresses the mark-off key 47 or 96 of the recording andreproducing apparatus 30 or the remote commander 90, the combineprocessing is carried out under the control of the system controller 11as shown in FIG. 17.

Step F200 in FIG. 17 shows the case that the system controller 11controls play in the play mode or the case that the system controllercontrols the play pause.

Incidentally, the combine operation is never executed during therecording mode and therefore information entered by the mark-off key 47or 96 is neglected during the recording mode.

If the user depresses the mark-off key 47 or 96 when the systemcontroller 11 carries out the play or play pause so that the recordingand reproducing apparatus is operated in the play mode or play pausemode, then the processing proceeds from step F201 to F203. Also in thiscase, it is determined whether present address data of the playproceeding point or present address data of the play pause represents apause of music, i.e., the divide point.

If an affirmative result is obtained at step F203, i.e., the presentaddress data indicates the divide position of the pause of a certainmusic (track), then the divide state is removed and the processingenters the combine processing to combine music (F204).

In the combining at step F204, the U-TOC data read in the buffer memory13 is rewritten and the combining is displayed. In this case, a messageindicative of combining is displayed, the track number displayed next isvaried and a music proceeding time is advanced by combining tunes.

In actual practice, combining is carried out, i.e, U-TOC is rewritten asfollows. In the state shown in FIG. 12B where dividing is carried out,if the user depresses the mark-off key 47 when an end portion (near theend address of segment M₂(2)) of music M₂ shown as TM_(OFF) isreproduced in the reproducing mode, then the music M₂ and the music M₃are combined by combining at step F204 as shown in FIG. 12C. At thattime, the music M₄, M₅ that were the 4th and 5th music before combiningas shown in FIG. 12B are changed to new 3rd and 4th music M₃, M₄ asshown in FIG. 12C after the 3rd music was combined with the 2nd music.

In this case, the U-TOC is rewritten from the state shown in FIG. 14 tothe state shown in FIG. 15. Portions shown hatched show rewrittenportions.

Specifically, although address data A₂₄ was recorded as start addressdata and address data A₂₅ was recorded as end address data of the 3rdmusic M₃ in the parts-table (04h) shown by the table pointer P-TNO3,segment data of the 3rd music is combined with the 2nd music so that theparts-table (04h) is combined with a link structure starting from thetable pointer P-TNO2. That is, link information of the parts-table (03h)which expresses segment data M₂(2) of the music M₂ is set to "04h" andaccordingly, a link structure in the form of the parts-table(02h)→(03h)→(04h) is formed from the table pointer P-TNO2. Thus, the 2ndmusic and the 3rd music are combined and managed as new one music M₂.

Further, the music M₄ which was the 4th music in FIG. 12B becomes a 3rdmusic because the track number thereof is moved down by combining.Therefore, the numerical value that had been written in the tablepointer P-TNO4 so far is written in the table pointer P-TNO3 and aparts-table (07h) is indicated on the table pointer P-TNO3. That is, thesegment data of the segment data A₃₃ to A₂₅ that were indicated on theparts-table (07h) as start address data and end address data are managedas new 3rd music M₃.

Similarly, the music M₅ that was the 5th music in FIG. 12B becomes the4th music because the track number is moved down by combining.Therefore, the numerical value that had been written in the tablepointer P-TNO5 so far is written in the table pointer P-TNO4 and aparts-table (05h) is indicated on the table pointer P-TNO4. That is, thesegment data of the segment data A₂₈ to A₂₉ that were indicated on theparts-table (05h) as start address data and end address data are managedas new 4th music M₄.

Then, there is no 5th music and the table pointer PTNO5 is set to "00h".

The combining is completed by the above-mentioned rewriting and thenmusic M₂ is managed on the assumption that this music is recorded bythree segment data (M₂(1), M₂(2), M₂(3)) of segment data A₂₂ to A₂₃, A₂₆to A₂₇ and A₂₄ to A₃₂. Also, the music M₃ is managed by segment data A₃₃to A₂₅ and the music M₄ is managed by segment data A₂₈ to A₂₉.

According to this embodiment, during play and play pause, it is possiblefor the user to carry out combine edit only by depressing the mark-offkey 47 or 96 at a predetermined timing.

Thereafter, the stop operation is carried out and therefore the play orplay pause is ended (step F202→YES). In that case, the U-TOC that isheld in the buffer memory 13 at that timing point is practically writtenin the U-TOC of the data 1 (F205) and the operation is stopped (F206).

According to this embodiment, the microphone 70 and the headphone 80also are provided with the track mark keys 74 and 89, by which the usercan carry out divide and combine edit. The track mark keys 74, 89 areserved as both mark-on keys and mark-off keys. Since the track mark keys74, 89 are served as both the mark-on keys and the mark-off keys, thetrack mark keys 74, 89 can be disposed on a part of the microphone 70and the headphone 80 with sufficient space and become suitable in use.

When the user enters track mark by the track mark keys 74 and 89, thetrack mark keys 74 and 89 are served as both the track mark-on keys andthe track mark-off keys. Therefore, the system controller 11 executesthe dividing/combining by the processing shown in FIG. 18.

In FIG. 18, step F300 shows the case that the system controller 11controls reproducing operation in the play mode, the case that thesystem controller controls play pause operation or the case that thesystem controller controls recording operation in the recording mode.

Operation of the track mark key 74 or 89 will be described. If the trackmark key is operated in the play, recording or in the play pause at theposition other than the starting position of music, it is determinedthat the track mark key is operated as the track mark-on key to executethe divide operation. If the track mark key 74 or 89 is operated whenthe recording and reproducing apparatus is placed in the pause mode atthe starting position of the music, it is determined that the track markkey is operated as the mark-off key to carry out the combine operation.

If the user accesses the starting position of the music, i.e., finds thestart portion of recorded music by using the music selection key (themusic selection key 39 of the recording and reproducing apparatus body,the music selection keys 87, 88 of the headphone or music selection keyof the remote commander), then the processing proceeds from step F301 toF304, whereat a track accessing is executed as an operation for findingout the start portion of recorded music and the recording andreproducing apparatus is set in the play pause mode. In this case, ifplay operation/recording operation is executed, then the processingreturns to step F300 and predetermined processings are carried out(F306→F300). If the stop operation is executed, then the processingenters the stop processing (F307→F311).

When the recording and reproducing apparatus is set in the play pausestate at the start position of music, if the track mark key 74 or 89 isoperated, then the processing proceeds from step F305 to F308, whereatcombining is executed. In other words, in the above-mentioned, therecording and reproducing apparatus is set in the play pause state atthe start position of music, such state should be the dividing point andthe user need not execute the divide processing. Therefore, it isdetermined that the operation is the combine operation and the U-TOC isrewritten so as to effect the combine editing.

If the track mark key 74 or 89 is depressed in the playback/playbackpause/recording state, then the processing proceeds from step F302 toF309, whereat it is determined whether or not the address of thereproducing or recording proceeding point at that time is a pause ofmusic, i.e., the divide point.

If a negative result is obtained at the step F309, i.e., then the aboveaddress is the position of somewhere of a certain piece of music. Thus,it is determined that the user operation is the divide operation. Then,the processing proceeds to the divide processing (F310), whereat theU-TOC is rewritten as the divide editing.

If the stop operation is carried out, the playback or playback pause orrecording operation is stopped (step F303→YES or F307→YES). At thattime, the U-TOC stored in the buffer memory at that time point iswritten in the U-TOC area of the disk in actual practice (F311) and theoperation is stopped (F312).

According to the above-mentioned processing, it becomes possible tocarry out the divide/combine processing by the track mark keys 74, 89serving as mark-on/mark-off keys.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible tocarry out the desired divide or combine editing only by depressing thetrack mark keys 74, 89 or the mark-on keys 46, 95 or the mark-off keys47, 96 during the playback, playback pause or recording mode. Therefore,since the above keys need not be operated after the apparatus had beenmoved to the editing mode, the apparatus becomes easy to handle uponediting.

In particular, by carrying out the track marking while the recording andreproducing are carried out, the apparatus can be considerably improvednot only in editing operation but also in use in the succeedingreproduction. If the track is divided/combined at the desired point inthe recording and reproducing modes, it is possible for the user toeasily understand the divide/combine editing.

Further, since the divide/combine operation can be executed by theremote commander 90, the headphone 80 and the microphone 70, the editingcan be carried out more easily when necessary. In particular, since theapparatus includes the microphone 70, the track marking can be carriedout with ease by using the microphone installed on the desk in order torecord speeches each time speaker is changed in the conference.

Operations for effecting the divide/combine editing and thecorresponding processings are not limited to the embodiment and can bemodified variously.

By way of example, the recording and reproducing apparatus body 30 andthe remote commander 90 may include track mark keys serving as both themark-on/mark-off keys. Conversely, the microphone 70 and the headphone80 may include the mark-on key and the mark-off key separately.

Also, other equipments to be connected may include the track markoperating means and the mark-on/mark-off operating means.

Also, it is needless to say that the operation information input meansis not limited to the system shown in FIG. 8 and may be modifiedvariously.

Furthermore, as the remote commander, it is possible to use a radio-wavetransmission type or wire connection type remote commander.

To prevent the user from inadvertently carrying out the trackmark-on/mark-off operation, the track mark operation unit of themicrophone and the headphone may become effective only when therecording is made.

(6. Auto Track Numbering Mode Setting Processing)

In the recording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodimentof the present invention, when audio data input by the microphone isrecorded, it is possible to automatically vary track numbers at everypredetermined time by the processing of auto track numbering (ATN) mode.In other words, under the control of the system controller 11, U-TOCdata is rewritten such that recorded audio data is divided into tracksat every predetermined time point.

Such processing is automatically carried out when audio data is inputthrough the microphone if the user turns on the ATN mode. Operation ofthe ATN mode will be described with reference to FIG. 19.

A flowchart of FIG. 19 shows an interrupt routine executed at everypredetermined time interval (e.g., several to several 100s ofmilliseconds) as the processing done by the system controller 11. If theinterrupt processing is executed during a variety of operations, such asstop/playback/pause/recording, then the system controller 11 executesthe ATN operation correspond to user's ATN mode operation.

When the ATN mode is set, the mode on/off should be set in order todetermine whether or not the automatic track numbering is carried outupon recording. Also, it is necessary to set a time interval in whichthe track numbering (division) is carried out in the mode-on state,i.e., a time interval to increment the track number. The time intervalsprepared herein are 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes and 20 minutes.

The user sets the mode by depressing the ATN 46a (FIG. 3A) apredetermined number of times. FIG. 20 shows an example of the settingoperation. Arrows correspond to depressions of the ANT key 46a.

When the ATN key 46a is depressed in the ATN mode-off state, the ATNmode with a time interval of 5 minutes is turned on. In response to eachdepression of the above key, the ATN mode with a time interval of 10minutes is turned on, the ATN mode with a time interval of 15 minutes isturned on and the ATN mode with a time interval of 20 minutes is turnedon. When the ATN key 46a is depressed one more time under the conditionthat the ATN mode with a time interval of 20 minutes is turned on, theATN mode is turned off.

In order to realize the above setting operations, the processing shownin FIG. 19 is executed.

If the ATN key 46a is not operated when the interrupt processing of FIG.19 is executed, then the processing proceeds from step F101 and ended.If the ATN key 46a is operated when the interrupt processing isexecuted, then the processing proceeds from step F101 to F402, whereat avariable n is incremented. The variable n is set to n=0 as an initialset value when the apparatus is powered.

Then, the variable n is compared with a constant N (F103). The constantN is determined in response to the number in which the ATN key 46a thatwas toggled as shown in FIG. 20 is depressed per period. In this case,as clear from FIG. 20, if the above key is depressed 5 times under thecondition that the ATN mode is turned off, then the ATN mode is turnedoff again. Therefore, if the variable n=0 when the ATN mode is turnedoff, then the constant N=4.

If the ATN key 46a is depressed once when the ATN mode is turned off,then the variable n=1. Since n≠N, the processing proceeds to step F404.Then, the ATN mode is turned on and n×5 minutes, i.e., 5 minutes are setas a timer time T·TIME (F405). That is, the ATN mode with a timeinterval of 5 minutes is turned on. The display unit 31 then displaysthat the ATN mode is turned on and that the track is divided at a timeinterval of 5 minutes (F406).

Thereafter, if the ATN key 46a is depressed again, then the variablen=2. Since n≠N, the processing proceeds to step F404, whereat the ATNmode is similarly turned on. Then, n×5 minutes, i.e., 10 minutes are setas the timer time T·TIME (F405). That is, the ATN mode with a timeinterval of 10 minutes is turned on. Then, the display unit 31 displaysthat the ATN mode is turned on and that the track is divided at a timeinterval of 10 minutes (F406).

If the ATN key 46a is further depressed, the ATN mode with a timeinterval of 15 minutes and the ATN mode with a time interval of 20minutes are turned on sequentially by the similar processing.

If the ATN key 46a is depressed at a time point in which the ATN modewith a time interval of 20 minutes is turned on, then n=4 and n=N issatisfied in step F403. Therefore, the processing proceeds to step F407,whereat the variable n=0 and the timer time T·TIME=0. Then, the ATN modeis turned off (F408) and the messages displayed to indicate that the ATNmode is on and the time interval by the display unit 31 are turned off(F409).

Thereafter, if the ATN key 46a is depressed again, then the variablen=1. Therefore, the ATN mode with a time interval of 5 minutes is turnedon.

Specifically, since the operation of the ATN key 46a is monitored by theprocessing shown in FIG. 19, the mode operation in the toggle form shownin FIG. 20 is realized and it is sufficient that the user continuouslydepresses the ATN key 46a until the desired mode state is presentedwhile monitoring the display.

(7. Processing Executed When Audio Data Input Through the Microphone isRecorded)

In response to the above mode operation, the ATN mode is turned on/offand the time interval for executing the numbering when the ATN mode isturned on is set as described above. When operation for recording ananalog signal input from the microphone on the disk 1 is started, aprocessing shown in FIG. 21 is executed based on the mode setting.

While an ATN mechanism processing shown in FIG. 21 is executed only whenthe signal input from the microphone is recorded, the present inventionis not limited thereto and that processing may be executed when ananalog signal input through an analog line is recorded.

When the recording is started by depressing the recording key 33 underthe condition that it is detected that the microphone is connected tothe microphone terminal 56, the system controller 11 starts theprocessing shown in FIG. 21.

When the recording of the input signal input from the microphone isinstructed, initially, a value which results from adding 1 to the lasttrack number (Last TNO) recorded on the U-TOC sector 0 is set as thetrack number TNO of recorded data (F501).

Specifically, if a disk in which no data is recorded is used, then thetrack number becomes the track number 1. If a disk in which audio dataof three track were already recorded is used, then the track numberbecomes the track number 4.

It is determined whether or not the ATN mode is turned on (F502). If theATN mode is off, then the processing proceeds to step F503, whereat thenormal recording processing is executed. This recording processing iscontinued until it is determined in step F504 by operation of the stopkey 38 or the lack of the free area of the disk that the recording isended or until it is determined in step F505 that the ATN mode is turnedon when the user executes the ATN mode operation during the recording.

When the recording is ended, the U-TOC data is updated within the buffermemory 13 in response to the recording operation in step F515 and theupdated U-TOC data is written in the disk 1 at step F516. Then, theprocessing is ended.

If the recording processing is ended under the condition that the ATNmode is turned off, then audio data recorded on the disk are all managedas one track by the updated U-TOC.

If it is determined in decision step F502 that the ATN mode is turnedon, then the timer is reset and starts counting (F506). Then, therecording processing is started (F507).

Since the timer counting is executed during the recording processing, itis determined in step F510 whether or not the time count value reachesthe timer time T·TIME.

The timer time T·TIME is set to a time, such as 5 minutes, 10 minutes orthe like designated by the user according to the ATN mode settingprocessing. If the timer time T·TIME=5 minutes, then the processingproceeds to step F511 at a time point in which the recording processingis executed for 5 minutes. The U-TOC data stored in the buffer memory 13is rewritten. In other words, the start address and the end address arewritten in the parts table led out by the table pointer (e.g., P-TNO1)corresponding to the track No. TNO such that audio data of first 5minutes is managed as one track.

Then, the track No. TNO is incremented (F512). In other words, audiodata that will be recorded hereinafter are managed as data of the nexttracks.

It is determined in step F513 whether or not the track No. TNO=255. Thereason for this is that up to 255 tracks can be managed as will be clearfrom the U-TOC structure shown in FIG. 10. If the track No. TNO=255,then the ATN mode is forced to be turned off (F514) and the processingproceeds to the next normal recording processing (F503). That is, thetrack of the track No. 255 is not divided until the recording is ended.

If the track No. TNO is not 255, then the processing returns to stepF506, whereat the timer is reset/started and the recording processing isexecuted while confirming the count value (F507 to F510). Then, if fiveminutes are passed, the U-TOC data is similarly rewritten within thebuffer memory 14 such that the track is divided and then the track No.TNO is incremented (F511, F512).

The processing proceeds from step F508 whose processing is ended whenthe recording processing of the loop from the steps F506 to F513 isstopped or the free area is fully used to step F515. The U-TOC data isupdated within the buffer memory 13 in response to the recordingoperation and the updated U-TOC data is written in the disk 1 (F516) andthe processing is ended.

If the ATN mode of 5-minute interval, for example, is turned on duringthe start to end of the recording, then the recorded audio data ismanaged by the U-TOC under the condition that the track is divided atthe interval of 5 minutes.

If the user operates the ATN key 46a during the recording, then in theinterrupt processing shown in FIG. 19, the ATN mode on/off and timeinterval (5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes) for dividingthe track are switched.

If the setting of the timer time·TIME is changed as the time interval atstep F405 in FIG. 19, then at that timing point, the comparisonreference value with the timer count value at step F510 is changed andthen the processing proceeds from step F510 to F511 when a timer timereaches a new set time.

Although the timer time is switched to 5 minutes if the user depressesthe ATN key 46a twice under the condition that a timer time of 20minutes is set, in this case, it is frequently observed that timer countvalue exceeds 5 minutes. In this case, (timer count value)>(timer timeT·TIME) and the processing proceeds to step F510. Accordingly, althoughthe duration of this track does not become 5 minutes or 20 minutes, theprocessing flow may be set such that the track is divided into tracks of5-minute interval after the track was temporarily divided at 20 minutes.In other words, all tracks (except the last track at the recording endtiming point) can be constantly divided at a predetermined time interval(i.e., any one of 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes).

If the ATN mode is turned off during the recording, then the processingproceeds from step F509 to F503, whereat the following ATN operation isnot executed. Further, if the ATN mode is switched from ON to OFF duringthe recording, then the processing proceeds from step F505 to F506, thenthe following ATN operation is executed.

(8. Various Auto Track Numbering Operations During the Recording)

The ATN operation that is realized by the processing shown in FIGS. 19and 21 will be described with reference to various kinds of examples ofFIGS. 22 to 28.

The respective examples show the case that an information signalindicating a conference or the like input from the microphone isrecorded on the disk on which no data is recorded at all for 28 minutes.

FIG. 22 shows the case that the information signal is recorded in theATN mode off wherein audio data of 28 minutes from the start to the endof the recording are all recorded as tracks. In this case, the recordingand reproducing apparatus is an ordinary recording apparatus. If theuser wishes to hear data of the portion of 15 minutes, then thereproduced portion should be advanced to the portion of 15 minutes bythe fast forward search.

FIG. 23 shows the case that the ATN mode of 5-minute interval is turnedon. As illustrated, the track number is updated at the interval of 5minutes and audio data of 28 minutes are divided from the track 1 to thetrack 6 when the recording is ended.

That is, in the U-TOC, the start address and the end address of theportion in which data of 0 to 5 minutes are recorded are recorded on theparts table shown by the table pointer P-TNO1. Similarly, startaddresses and end addresses of the positions at which data of 5 to 10minutes, 10 to 15 minutes, 15 to 20 minutes, 20 to 25 minutes and 25 to28 minutes are recorded are respectively recorded on the parts tablesled out by the table pointers TNO2 to P-TNO6.

Therefore, if the user wishes to reproduce the portion of 15 minutes,then the user can immediately listen to sounds of that portion byaccessing the start position of the track 4.

FIG. 24 shows the case that the ATN mode of 10-minute interval is turnedon. As illustrated, the track number is updated at the interval of 10minutes and audio data of 28 minutes is divided from the track 1 to thetrack 3 when the recording is ended.

FIG. 25 shows the case that the ATN mode of 5-minute interval is turnedon by the user by depressing the ATN key 46a at a timing point of 11minutes, for example, although the ATN mode is turned off when therecording is just started.

In this case, the portion ranging from 0 to 16 minutes are set to thetrack 1 and portions are divided at the interval of 5 minutes to thetrack 2, the track 3 and the track 4. In such case, the track may bedivided at the timing point (portion of 11 minutes) where the ATN modeis turned on.

FIG. 26 shows the case that the ATN mode is turned off by the user bydepressing the ATN key 46 at a timing point of 18 minutes, for example,although the ATN mode of 5-minute interval is turned on when therecording is just started.

In this case, the portions of 0 to 15 minutes are set to the track 1,the track 2 and the track 3. If the ATN mode is turned off before thetrack 4 is divided at the timing point of 20 minutes, then audio data of28 minutes in which the recording is ended from the audio data of theportion of 15 minutes are set to the track 4.

FIG. 27 shows the case that the ATN mode is switched to the 10-minuteinterval by the user by operating the ATN key 46 at a timing point of 14minutes, for example, although the ATN mode of 5-minute interval isturned on when the recording is just started.

In this case, the audio data of 0 to 10 minutes are set to the track 1and the track 2 and audio data of 10 to 28 minutes are divided to thetrack 3 and the track 4 at the interval of 10 minutes. Also in thiscase, the track may be divided at a timing point (timing point of 14minutes) where the mode setting is switched.

As is clear from these examples, according to this embodiment, since theATN processing is carried out in response to the user's operation duringthe recording, if the user wishes to hear a desired portion uponplayback, it is possible to search a desired portion easily and readilyby detecting the starting portion of the recorded data.

While the on/off of the ATN mode and the time interval of dividing thetrack can be set by using the ATN key 46a as described above, the modeon/off operation key and the operation key for setting the time intervalin which the track is divided may be provided independently.

(9. System for Using the Auto Track Numbering Mode Setting Key also asthe Recording Key)

The ATN mode on/off and operation key for setting the time interval ofdividing the track may be served also as the recording key 33 andtherefore the ATN key 46a may be removed.

In this case, the system controller 11 may execute the decisionprocessing of FIG. 28 for the operation of the recording key.

If the recording key 33 is operated, then the processing proceeds fromstep F601 to F602 whereat the present operation state is judged. Then,if the present operation state corresponds to any one of the presentstop state, the reproducing state and the pause state, then it isdetermined that the operation is the recording operation. Thus, therecording processing is started at step F610.

If the recording key 33 is operated during the recording, a negativeresult is obtained at step F602 and an affirmative result is obtained atstep F603. Then, the processing proceeds to step F604.

In this case, the operation of the recording key 33 is not recognized asthe operation for recording but is recognized as the operation forsetting the ATN mode.

Then, at step F604, the present ATN mode state is judged.

If now the ATN mode of 5-minute interval is turned on, then theprocessing proceeds to step F605, whereat the ATN mode of 10-minuteinterval is turned on.

If now the ATN mode of 10-minute interval is turned on, then theprocessing proceeds to step F606, whereat the ATN mode of 15-minuteinterval is turned on.

If now the ATN mode of 15-minute interval is turned on, then theprocessing proceeds to step F607, whereat the ATN mode of 20-minuteinterval is turned on.

If now the ATN mode of 20-minute interval is turned on, then theprocessing proceeds to step F608, whereat the ATN mode is turned off.

If now the ATN mode is turned off, then the processing proceeds to stepF609, whereat the ATN mode of 5-minute interval is turned on.

In other words, during the recording, the recording key 33 may functionas the operation key for setting the ATN mode owing to the toggle formof FIG. 20.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodimentand may be modified variously.

The setting of the time interval is not limited to the above-mentionedexamples and other time intervals may be set. When necessary, only onefixed time interval may be set.

Further, the ATN key may be disposed on a remote commander forcontrolling the recording and reproducing apparatus via infrared raysand the remote control operation units provided on the headphone and themicrophone connected thereto.

Further, the processing system for the ATN operation is not limited tothose of the examples shown in FIGS. 19 and 21 and may be consideredvariously.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a recordingmedium comprising:recording and reproducing means for recording orreproducing data on or from a recording medium in which managementinformation for recording or reproducing data is recorded together withdata; designating means for designating a break position of one data;control means for controlling the recording and reproducing means on thebasis of the management information so that the recording andreproducing means records or reproduces data on or from a recordingmedium, recognizing a time point in which the designating meansdesignates the break position when the designating means is operatedwhile the recording and reproducing means records or reproduces data onor from the recording medium, controlling the recording and reproducingmeans so that the recording and reproducing means rewrites themanagement information, and combining two data before and after thebreak position to one continuous data if the designating means isoperated when a scanning position of the recording and reproducing meansis placed at the break position under the condition that the recordingand reproducing means reproduces data from the recording medium; andoperating means for setting a pause state while data is recorded on orreproduced from the recording medium and wherein the control meansrefuses an output signal from the designating means when the pause stateis set by the operating means while data is being recorded on therecording medium.
 2. An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing arecording medium according to claim 1, wherein the managementinformation is not rewritten when the control means detects that theposition designated by the designating means or the position at whichthe pause state is set by the operating means is a starting end, anending end or a position near the starting end or the ending end of onedata.
 3. An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a recordingmedium comprising:recording and reproducing means for recording orreproducing data on or from a recording medium in which managementinformation for recording or reproducing data is recorded together withdata; designating means for enabling a user to designate a breakposition of one data; and control means for controlling the recordingand reproducing means on the basis of the management information so thatthe recording and reproducing means records or reproduces data on orfrom a recording medium, recognizing a user-defined time point in whichthe designating means designates the break position when the designatingmeans is operated while the recording and reproducing means records orreproduces data on or from the recording medium and controlling therecording and reproducing means so that the recording and reproducingmeans rewrites the management information.
 4. An apparatus for recordingand/or reproducing a recording medium according to claim 3, furthercomprising operating means for setting a pause state while data isrecorded on or reproduced from the recording medium and wherein thecontrol means refuses an output signal from the designating means when apause state is set by the operating means while data is being recordedon the recording medium.
 5. An apparatus for recording and/orreproducing a recording medium according to claim 3, wherein themanagement information is not rewritten when the control means detectsthat the position designated by the designating means or the position atwhich the pause state is set by the operating means is a starting end,an ending end or a position near the starting end or the ending end ofone data.
 6. An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a recordingmedium according to claim 3, wherein the control means combines two databefore and after the break position to one continuous data if thedesignating means is operated when a scanning position of the recordingand reproducing means is placed at the break position under thecondition that the recording and reproducing means reproduces data fromthe recording medium.